Three cases of MRSA reported at two East Bridgewater schools

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said that two of the cases of MRSA have been confirmed between the East Bridgewater High School and the Middle School.

Sara Cline The Enterprise @saraclinenews

EAST BRIDGEWATER – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health said they were alerted about three cases of MRSA between the East Bridgewater High School and the Middle School.

Two of the cases have been confirmed, Omar Cabrera, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, said.

The East Bridgewater Superintendent, Elizabeth Legault, initially confirmed that there was a case of MRSA at the high school on Thursday, Nov. 30, in a letter school officials sent home to parents.

In addition, the East Bridgewater Board of Health also posted on their Facebook about the situation Friday morning.

Cleaners worked overnight Thursday to disinfect the school, Legault said.

“The school has been thoroughly cleaned and, out of an abundance of caution, the scheduled blood drive was cancelled,” the board said in its Facebook post. “The school is open and parents and children should not panic, however, this is a good opportunity to remind students and athletes about the importance of hand washing as we are also well into flu season.”

The state’s Department of Public Health told The Enterprise Friday afternoon that they were alerted to three students who may have MRSA at the high school and middle school.

Two of those cases have been confirmed, Cabrera said.

“All of them are student cases and all cases were reported this week, Cabrera said.

Cabrera did not say if both of the confirmed cases were at the high school or if there was one at the high school and one at the middle school.

“If there are any further cases, the state has asked us to document it and report it directly to them for their instructions,” Peter Spagone, the chairman of the Board of Health said.

“DPH has recommended that the school perform environmental cleaning in high touch surface areas, and promotion of hand-washing,” Cabrera said.

MRSA stands for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, a nasty bacteria which attacks the body in different locations and can result in skin ulcers, wounds, injuries and other skin conditions.

“MRSA is not uncommon in the community. MRSA is a type of “staph” infection that is resistant to many antibiotics and frequently causes skin infections,” Cabrera said. “MRSA skin infections are generally spread by skin-to-skin contact or by direct contact with the infected wound drainage. (It) may also be spread by contact with contaminated surfaces or things such as sports equipment or personal hygiene items.”

According to the Center for Disease Control, MRSA cleanup procedures should focus on surfaces that touch people’s bare skin each day and any surfaces that could come into contact with uncovered infections, for example, surfaces such as benches in a weight room or locker room.

“We suggest that the district concentrate on cleaning bathrooms, door handles, and bubblers and remind and enforce hand hygiene with soap and water and alcohol-based sanitizers before and after using the bathroom,” the Board of Health said in a statement. “Additionally, if your child has an open wound, it is important that it is covered and if a wound looks infected or is not healing, please seek medical treatment.”

The town's health department and the state's Department of Public Health are assisting at the school, as outlined in the letter sent home to students.

“We have confirmed to the school district that that there is no reason to panic and that MRSA is seen frequently throughout the state, especially at this time of year,” the Board of Health said.

Stacey Ryan, the manager of infection prevention at Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital, said although MRSA has a bad reputation people should not be worried.

“For most young and healthy people, it is not something to be extremely concerned about,” Ryan said. “It is not as problematic as some other ‘superbugs.’”

MRSA is commonly found in places where many people spend a lot of time in a confined space, such as schools, gyms and assisted living centers, Ryan said.

The best way to avoid MRSA, and to prevent it from spreading, is by following general hygiene lessons.

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